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[Article] Taxi-access report 'disappointing', say Greens

21-07-2004 1:40am

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Victor

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http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/breaking/3630165?view=Eircomnet

Taxi-access report 'disappointing', say Greens
From:ireland.com
Tuesday, 20th July, 2004

A new report on taxi services does not go far enough towards making taxis accessible to all, the Green Party has said.

Towards an Accessible Taxi Service for All was developed by a consortium of bodies, including the Disability Federation of Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the National Council for the Blind of Ireland and published today.

It includes recommendations that it claims will have a positive effect for the taxi service and all taxi users, including people with physical and sensory disabilities, the general public and tourists.

However, Green Party TD Mr Eamon Ryan said the party was disappointed at the report's "modest target" of making just 16 per cent of taxis wheelchair-accessible.

"I would encourage the disability groups to be far more ambitious in what they are looking for. After all, the Government did give a promise when they deregulated the taxi market four years ago that they would start the process of making all taxis wheelchair accessible from the end of 2003," Mr Ryan said.

"The taxi unions will claim that wheelchair taxis are too expensive; however the proposals to exempt them from VRT and VAT should go a long way towards making them economically viable. Indeed insisting that new taxis meet purpose built standards would be the best way of guaranteeing a living wage for full time professional taxi drivers, as it would discourage part time drivers from entering the business.

"The proposals to standardise the colour of cabs makes sense and the recommendations regarding driver training will also be welcome. However, the proposal to establish a central booking system for wheelchair users may leave them hanging on a phone line unless there is rigid monitoring and enforcement of the system," Mr Ryan said.

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